View Full Version : Fitbit vs more serious health tracker?
catherine
10-30-20, 12:38pm
I have a Fitbit--have had it for over 2 years and I'm addicted to it. The first thing I do when I wake up is look at my sleep score. I also track my resting heart rate.
In this self-mastery program I'm in, they talked about heart rate variability (HRV), which I had never really heard of before, especially not in the context of something that should be tracked. I looked into it with my Fitbit and turns out my Charge 2 didn't carry that metric.
Well, now it does. So I was very interested in finding out what my HRV was. I consider myself to be quite healthy for my age, although my RHR tends slightly high, especially if I have a couple of glasses of wine 3 days in a row.
I was shocked to see it's 11ms. Apparently at my age it should be close to 50. Younger people and athletes have HRV upwards of 80. I did some research and I find that a low HRV is correlated with poor cardiac health.
So, my plan of action is to see if I can get to see a doctor for a very belated check-up. Not sure how that will go, given how bad COVID is these days, but hopefully I can get in some time before the end of the year.
In the meantime, I'm going to try to follow some of the suggestions I've read on the internet to raise HRV scores--notably, I'm cutting out alcohol and increasing my exercise--I'll try to get my 10,000 steps in every day at least.
My question is--does anyone have any advice on the types of consumer health trackers that focus on cardiac metrics? I'm thinking specifically of WHOOP or EliteHRV, and a couple of others I've seen. Or do you think my Fitbit should be enough. The difference is the more cardiac-oriented devices track recovery rates after stress, and you can also check HRV throughout the day, as opposed to getting only one daily reading following sleep.
Any experience here?
What about an Apple Watch?
Tracking every tic and hiccup? All I need to know is that I have a pulse. :~)
catherine
10-30-20, 2:21pm
Tracking every tic and hiccup? All I need to know is that I have a pulse. :~)
Haha, I know. I just have a habit of recording and tracking everything in life. I journal, I track every penny in a budget software, I give myself a grade every day for my performance the day before. I'm a nut. I admit it. Maybe all that stress from tracking everything is why I have such a low HRV :|(
Tradd, good suggestion on the Apple Watch. I'll look into it, but I suspect their metrics are more similar to Fitbit than the ones I mentioned that focus primarily on cardio health.
Catherine, I just realized that you probably need to have an iPhone to run an Apple Watch. I'm not totally sure, though. There is a separate app. I wonder if you could use an iPad, instead.
Edit: Heart monitoring stuff
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204666
https://www.apple.com/healthcare/apple-watch/
Haha, I know. I just have a habit of recording and tracking everything in life. I journal, I track every penny in a budget software, I give myself a grade every day for my performance the day before. I'm a nut. I admit it. Maybe all that stress from tracking everything is why I have such a low HRV :|(
Tradd, good suggestion on the Apple Watch. I'll look into it, but I suspect their metrics are more similar to Fitbit than the ones I mentioned that focus primarily on cardio health.
Let's hear it for diversity!
I've tried tracking various things; it rarely lasts long. I balanced my checkbook once...:D
Let's hear it for diversity!
I've tried tracking various things; it rarely lasts long. I balanced my checkbook once...:D
What I love about my Apple Watch is that it tracks my workouts and such and I don't have to do a thing! It's all there in the app.
catherine
10-30-20, 2:43pm
What I love about my Apple Watch is that it tracks my workouts and such and I don't have to do a thing! It's all there in the app.
My Fitbit does the same, actually.
My Fitbit does the same, actually.
I was never interested in getting a Fitbit because the "screen" is so small. I'm used to wearing a watch and I like the Apple Watch for the regular watch features.
catherine
10-30-20, 2:48pm
I was never interested in getting a Fitbit because the "screen" is so small. I'm used to wearing a watch and I like the Apple Watch for the regular watch features.
You are right about that. The Apple Watch appeals to me, but I think it was more expensive than the Fitbit at the time. I do have an iPhone, so either would have worked.
Haha, I know. I just have a habit of recording and tracking everything in life. I journal, I track every penny in a budget software, I give myself a grade every day for my performance the day before. I'm a nut. I admit it. Maybe all that stress from tracking everything is why I have such a low HRV :|(
Tradd, good suggestion on the Apple Watch. I'll look into it, but I suspect their metrics are more similar to Fitbit than the ones I mentioned that focus primarily on cardio health.
I think I need to get one of these. I love being able to track my health myself. Does anyone know of one with a SPO2 function? I need to track that while I sleep.
frugal-one
10-30-20, 3:22pm
Haha, I know. I just have a habit of recording and tracking everything in life. I journal, I track every penny in a budget software, I give myself a grade every day for my performance the day before. I'm a nut. I admit it. Maybe all that stress from tracking everything is why I have such a low HRV :|(
Tradd, good suggestion on the Apple Watch. I'll look into it, but I suspect their metrics are more similar to Fitbit than the ones I mentioned that focus primarily on cardio health.
Makes me wonder who else is tracking your health?
catherine
10-30-20, 5:48pm
Makes me wonder who else is tracking your health?
I'm not all that concerned to be honest. Should I be?
Tybee, the Apple Watch 6 has SpO2.. Not sure if it's the only one, but I was researching and I see that it's a pretty sophisticated health tracker.
I am leaning toward a dedicated HRV system, which is the EliteHRV, but you have to buy a heart monitor. The one I would like is a lot cheaper than a new fitness tracker. But that Apple Watch sure is nice.
https://www.apple.com/watch/?afid=p238%7Cspg0eQFRw-dc_mtid_1870765e38482_pcrid_474706941084_pgrid_110 807542046_&cid=aos-us-kwgo---slid---product-
I'm not all that concerned to be honest. Should I be?
Tybee, the Apple Watch 6 has SpO2.. Not sure if it's the only one, but I was researching and I see that it's a pretty sophisticated health tracker.
I am leaning toward a dedicated HRV system, which is the EliteHRV, but you have to buy a heart monitor. The one I would like is a lot cheaper than a new fitness tracker. But that Apple Watch sure is nice.
https://www.apple.com/watch/?afid=p238%7Cspg0eQFRw-dc_mtid_1870765e38482_pcrid_474706941084_pgrid_110 807542046_&cid=aos-us-kwgo---slid---product-
That is really cool. Can do so much.
catherine
11-11-20, 9:56am
Well, Divine Providence is once again my friend. On Facebook (which was probably monitoring conversations with my family about my heart) a sponsored ad popped up about a heart study sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. I looked into it and found that if I enrolled in the study I could be randomized into a control group (no Apple Watch) or a group that has to buy an Apple Watch and wear it for two years. They said the watch would be at a discounted rate so cost wouldn't be a barrier, or you could borrow one and return it at the end of the study period.
So I went through the eligibility and enrollment process and I was put in the Apple Watch group!!! I thought the watch would be at best a 50% discount, which would have been great for a $400 watch, but it was $49!!! (plus tax)
I'm so psyched to be in this study! Not only do I get a watch, but I get all kinds of support for heart-healthy living! And I advance the cause of science and technology!
If anyone else is interested, you have to be over 65, but check it out here:
https://www.heartline.com/?gclid=aec523330a01123c07c47c98e761bced&gclsrc=3p.ds
happystuff
11-11-20, 10:58am
That's great, catherine! Good luck with it all!
Teacher Terry
11-11-20, 12:04pm
Went into the study but changed my mind when I saw they were going to collect information from my Medicare claims.
Fantastic! Wish I were already 65--maybe I will ask my husband to check it out. He needs this for sleep apnea.
Didn't that work out well! Please report back on how you like the watch.
rosarugosa
11-11-20, 5:48pm
That's great, Catherine!
frugal-one
11-11-20, 7:17pm
Went into the study but changed my mind when I saw they were going to collect information from my Medicare claims.
Scary....
catherine
11-11-20, 7:19pm
Scary....
Doesn't bother me at all. First of all, I don't have any Medicare claims yet. Second, I know that data used in trials like this is very well protected. Third, I have nothing to hide.
Catherine, which Apple Watch are you getting?
catherine
11-11-20, 7:53pm
Catherine, which Apple Watch are you getting?
They required the Apple series 6. I could have gotten the upgraded one with a fancy strap for $79, but that was the only difference.
https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-watch/apple-watch/40mm-gps-gold-aluminum-pinksand-sport-band-sm-ml
I'm not usually a pink person, but I liked it better than black, since it's so big.. I figured the flesh color would be a little less bold on my wrist.
Nice! I have an Apple Watch 3.
catherine
11-11-20, 8:06pm
Well, thanks for giving it an endorsement--I hadn't really considered it, but this works out great for me.
Glad to hear. I love mine. I’m always amazed how how much I’m up and down, even working at home. Did a half mile today!
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